Revenue Recognition - Passenger Revenue by Geographic Region (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Airline Destination Disclosure [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 11,559	$ 10,965	$ 33,603	$ 32,011
Passenger [Member]
Airline Destination Disclosure [Line Items]
Operating revenues	10,561	10,096	30,714	29,447
Passenger [Member] | Domestic [Member]
Airline Destination Disclosure [Line Items]
Operating revenues	7,424	7,162	22,071	21,522
Passenger [Member] | Latin America [Member]
Airline Destination Disclosure [Line Items]
Operating revenues	1,210	1,183	3,939	3,622
Passenger [Member] | Atlantic [Member]
Airline Destination Disclosure [Line Items]
Operating revenues	1,504	1,363	3,471	3,170
Passenger [Member] | Pacific [Member]
Airline Destination Disclosure [Line Items]
Operating revenues	423	388	1,233	1,133
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Airline Destination Disclosure [Line Items]
Operating revenues	11,556	10,962	33,594	32,003
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Passenger [Member]
Airline Destination Disclosure [Line Items]
Operating revenues	10,561	10,096	30,714	29,447
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Passenger [Member] | Domestic [Member]
Airline Destination Disclosure [Line Items]
Operating revenues	7,424	7,162	22,071	21,522
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Passenger [Member] | Latin America [Member]
Airline Destination Disclosure [Line Items]
Operating revenues	1,210	1,183	3,939	3,622
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Passenger [Member] | Atlantic [Member]
Airline Destination Disclosure [Line Items]
Operating revenues	1,504	1,363	3,471	3,170
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Passenger [Member] | Pacific [Member]
Airline Destination Disclosure [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 423	$ 388	$ 1,233	$ 1,133